Display method and device for menu key of touchscreen mobile terminal

ABSTRACT

Provided are a display method and device for a menu key of a touchscreen mobile terminal, which relate to the technical field of mobile terminals. The method comprises: obtaining relative states of the left side and the right side of the screen of a touchscreen mobile terminal; and when the left side of the screen is higher than the right side thereof, displaying a menu key at the higher side of the screen.

This application claims priority from Chinese patent application No.201210099599.X entitled “DISPLAY METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MENU KEY OFTOUCHSCREEN MOBILE TERMINAL” filed with the Chinese patent office onApr. 6, 2012, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the technical field of mobileterminal, and in particular to a display method and device for a menukey of a touch screen mobile terminal.

BACKGROUND ART

With the development of communication technologies, mobile terminalshave been greatly involved in people's daily life. In the recent years,touch screen mobile terminals have become widespread; they can providevarious applications for users and achieve a better human-machineinteraction.

The applications in touch screen mobile terminals typically include aplurality of function options. As a touch screen mobile terminal has ascreen of a limited size, the function options cannot be all displayedon a single interface. As a result, several function options are oftenassociated with a menu key, and only the menu key is displayed on thescreen while all the function options associated with the menu key arehidden. When a user wants to use a function associated with the menukey, the menu key is hit and all the function options associated withthis menu key will pop up to display on the current screen. For example,when a user is editing an SMS message, a menu key will typically bedisplayed on the screen (and often near the input box); upon hitting themenu key, functions such as “picture”, “contact information”, “ringingtone”, etc. will pop up for a further operation by the user, e.g.inserting a picture.

The inventors found that at least the following problem exists in theprior art.

In prior art touch screen mobile terminals, a menu key is displayed atthe same position regardless of different holding manners in which theuser holds the touch screen mobile terminal. This results in adifficulty in selecting the menu key, and this inconvenience leads to adeteriorated user experience.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In light of the problem in the prior art that the menu key is displayedat a fixed position, which leads to an inconvenient operation,embodiments of the disclosure provides a display method and device for amenu key of a touch screen mobile terminal. The technical solutions maybe summarized as follows.

In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method for releasing acommodity is provided including: receiving commodity information from aclient by a server; querying in a database, by the server, commodityorder information corresponding to the commodity within a predeterminedtime period; obtaining, by the server, an average price for thecommodity based on the commodity order information; and sending theaverage price and/or a price cut extent to the client by the server.

In an aspect, an embodiment of the disclosure provides a display methodfor a menu key of a touch screen mobile terminal, the method including:

-   -   obtaining a relative state of left and right sides of a screen        of the touch screen mobile terminal; and    -   displaying, on condition that the left side of the screen is        higher than the right side or the right side is higher than the        left side, the menu key at the higher side of the screen.

Preferably, the step of obtaining the relative state of left and rightsides of the screen of the touch screen mobile terminal may include:

-   -   determining an orientation of the screen of the touch screen        mobile terminal via gravity sensing, the orientation of the        screen including landscape and portrait; and    -   determining the relative state of the left and right sides of        the touch screen mobile terminal in accordance with the        determined orientation of the screen.

The method may further include:

-   -   recording operation information for the menu key within a        predetermined period, wherein the operation information includes        an operation trajectory in which a user operates the menu key,        the relative state of left and right sides of the screen and the        orientation of the screen of the touch screen mobile terminal        when being operated, and a type of the operation trajectory, the        type of the operation trajectory including a valid operation        trajectory and an invalid operation trajectory; and    -   calculating display positions for the menu key corresponding to        various relative states in different orientations of the screen        for a next period in accordance with the operation information        and a display position for the menu key within a current period.

Specifically, the step of calculating display positions for the menu keycorresponding to various relative states in different orientations ofthe screen for the next period in accordance with the operationinformation and the display position for the menu key within the currentperiod may include:

-   -   calculating the display positions for the menu key corresponding        to various relative states in different orientations of the        screen for the next period respectively based on the equation        of:        Vc=A*Vi+(1−A)*Vj,    -   wherein A indicates a value of ratio of a number of the valid        operation trajectories to the invalid operation trajectories        corresponding to various relative states in different        orientations of the screen within the period, Vi indicates        coordinates of the display position for the menu key within the        current period, and Vj indicates average position coordinates        for the invalid operation trajectories.

Optionally, after obtaining the relative state of left and right sidesof the screen of the touch screen mobile terminal, the method mayfurther include: displaying the menu key at a predetermined position onthe screen of the touch screen mobile terminal on condition that theleft and right sides are on an equal level.

Preferably, after displaying the menu key at the higher side of thescreen, the method may further include:

-   -   displaying function options corresponding to the menu key along        a predetermined path on condition that the menu key is hit;    -   displaying function options corresponding to the menu key along        a slide path of the menu key on condition that the menu key is        slid; and    -   displaying function options corresponding to the menu key along        a user-specified path on condition that the menu key is hit.

In another aspect, an embodiment of the disclosure provides a displaydevice for a menu key of a touch screen mobile terminal, the deviceincluding:

-   -   an obtaining module configured to obtain a relative state of        left and right sides of a screen of the touch screen mobile        terminal; and    -   a display module configured to display, on condition that the        left side of the screen is higher than the right side or the        right side is higher than the left side, the menu key at the        higher side of the screen.

Preferably, the obtaining module may include:

-   -   a first determination unit configured to determine an        orientation of the screen of the touch screen mobile terminal        via gravity sensing, the orientation of the screen including        landscape and portrait; and    -   a second determination unit configured to determine the relative        state of the left and right sides of the touch screen mobile        terminal in accordance with the determined orientation of the        screen.

The device may further include:

-   -   a recording module configured to record operation information        for the menu key within a predetermined period, wherein the        operation information includes an operation trajectory in which        a user operates the menu key, the relative state of left and        right sides of the screen and the orientation of the screen of        the touch screen mobile terminal when being operated, and a type        of the operation trajectory, the type of the operation        trajectory including a valid operation trajectory and an invalid        operation trajectory; and    -   a calculation module configured to calculate display positions        for the menu key corresponding to various relative states in        different orientations of the screen for a next period in        accordance with the operation information and a display position        for the menu key within a current period.

Specifically, the calculation module may be configured to calculate thedisplay positions for the menu key corresponding to various relativestates in different orientations of the screen for the next periodrespectively based on the equation of:Vc=A*Vi+(1−A)*Vj,

-   -   wherein A indicates a value of ratio of a number of the valid        operation trajectories to the invalid operation trajectories        corresponding to various relative states in different        orientations of the screen within the period, Vi indicates        coordinates of the display position for the menu key within the        current period, and Vj indicates average position coordinates        for the invalid operation trajectories.

Optionally, the display module may be further configured to display themenu key at a predetermined position on the screen of the touch screenmobile terminal on condition that the left and right sides are on anequal level.

Preferably, the display module may be further configured to: displayfunction options corresponding to the menu key along a predeterminedpath on condition that the menu key is hit; display function optionscorresponding to the menu key along a slide path of the menu key oncondition that the menu key is slid; and display function optionscorresponding to the menu key along a user-specified path on conditionthat the menu key is hit.

In another aspect, an embodiment of the disclosure provides a mobileterminal including a processor and a transceiver, the processor and thetransceiver being coupled together,

-   -   wherein the processor is configured to obtain a relative state        of left and right sides of a screen of the touch screen mobile        terminal; and display, on condition that the left side of the        screen is higher than the right side or the right side is higher        than the left side, the menu key at the higher side of the        screen; and    -   the transceiver is configured to establish communication between        the mobile terminal and another mobile terminal or a wireless        network to implement data receiving and transmitting between the        mobile terminal and said another mobile terminal or the wireless        network.

The technical solutions of the embodiments of the disclosure providesadvantageous effects including: a relative state of left and right sidesof a screen of a touch screen mobile terminal is determined via gravitysensing, thereby enabling a current operation state of a user based onthe relative state, e.g. holding the touch screen mobile terminal by theleft hand or holding the touch screen mobile terminal by the right hand.The menu key thus can be set in a position where the user can easilyoperate so that the user can conveniently operate the menu key. Theembodiments of the disclosure take into account the operation habits ofthe user when determining the display position of the menu key andbetter facilitate the operation of the user on the menu key, resultingin an improved user experience and a better interaction between the userand the touch screen mobile terminal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the disclosure will be depicted with reference to thedrawings briefly described in the following to better illustrate thetechnical solutions. Apparently the drawings merely illustrate someembodiments of the invention, and a person with ordinary skill in theart may conceive of other embodiments based on these drawings without aninventive effort.

FIG. 1 illustrates a flowchart of a display method for a menu key of atouch screen mobile terminal provided by a first embodiment of thedisclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart of a display method for a menu key of atouch screen mobile terminal provided by a second embodiment of thedisclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates a structure of a display device for a menu key of atouch screen mobile terminal provided by a third embodiment of thedisclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates a structure of a display device for a menu key of atouch screen mobile terminal provided by a fourth embodiment of thedisclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates a structure of an obtaining module provided in thefourth embodiment; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a structure a mobile terminal provided by the fifthembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The embodiments of the disclosure will be described in further detailwith reference to the drawings so that objects, technical solutions andadvantages of the invention will be clear.

First Embodiment

An embodiment of the disclosure provides a display method for a menu keyof a touch screen mobile terminal. With reference to FIG. 1, the methodmay include:

Step 101: obtaining a relative state of left and right sides of a screenof the touch screen mobile terminal.

Specifically, a gravity sensing device within the mobile terminal, e.g.an accelerometer, may be used to determine the relative state of thecurrent screen. Preferably, a tri-axial accelerometer may be used.

Specifically, taking a cell phone as an example for the mobile terminal.A tri-axial accelerometer may be built therein. When determining therelative state of the current screen, the left and right sides in aplane of the screen for the cell phone in the portrait orientation maycorrespond to the negative and positive sides of X axis, the upper andlower sides in the plane of the cell phone may correspond to thepositive and negative sides of Y axis, and the inside and outside of theplane of the cell phone may correspond to the positive and negativesides of Z axis respectively. An angle of inclination of the cell phonemay be calculated with the angles formed to the three axes (or any twoof the axes) to thereby calculate values of acceleration of gravity onthe three axes, by which the relative state of the screen can bedetermined.

Step 102: displaying, on condition that the left side of the screen ishigher than the right side or the right side is higher than the leftside, the menu key at the higher side of the screen.

Specifically, when the left side of the screen is higher than the rightside, the menu key is displayed on the left side of the current screen;and when the right side of the screen is higher than the left side, themenu key is displayed on the right side of the current screen.

In practice, the mobile terminal may be in an unstable environment.Therefore a detection period, e.g. 3 seconds, may be set. When the leftside of the screen is higher than the right side for 3 seconds, the menukey is displayed on the left side of the current screen; on the otherhand, when the right side of the screen is higher than the left side for3 seconds, the menu key is displayed on the right side of the currentscreen.

Typically when a user uses a cell phone with a single hand, he/she maysupport one end of the cell phone with his/her little finger to preventthe cell phone from falling down. Therefore when the cell phone is heldwith a right hand, the left side will be higher than the right side andwhen the cell phone is held with a left hand, the right hand will behigher than the left side. It is noted that when the cell phone is heldwith the left hand, the area that can be conveniently operated is theright side of the screen, and when the cell phone is held with the righthand, the area that can be conveniently operated is the left side of thescreen. Therefore in the embodiment, on condition that the left side ofthe screen is higher than the right side, the menu key is displayed onthe left side of the current screen; and on condition that the rightside of the screen is higher than the left side, the menu key isdisplayed on the right side of the current screen.

According to the embodiment, by determining the relative state of theleft and right sides of the screen of the touch screen mobile terminalvia gravity sensing, the current operation state of the user, e.g.holding the touch screen mobile terminal by the left hand or holding thetouch screen mobile terminal by the right hand, can be determined inaccordance with the relative state. The menu key can then be set at aposition where the user can operate easily so that the user can operatethe menu key conveniently. The embodiment takes into account theoperation habits of the user when determining the display position ofthe menu key and better facilitates the operation of the user on themenu key, resulting in an improved user experience and a betterinteraction between the user and the touch screen mobile terminal.

Second Embodiment

The embodiment of the disclosure provides a display method for a menukey of a touch screen mobile terminal. The method provided by theembodiment will be described in detail with a smart cell phone as anexample of touch screen mobile terminal. With reference to FIG. 2, thedisplay method for a menu key of a touch screen mobile terminal provideby the embodiment may include:

Step 201: determining an orientation of the screen of the touch screenmobile terminal via gravity sensing, the orientation of the screenincluding landscape and portrait.

Step 202: determining the relative state of the left and right sides ofthe touch screen mobile terminal in accordance with the determinedorientation of the screen.

Specifically, a gravity sensing device within the touch screen mobileterminal, e.g. an accelerometer, may be used to determine theorientation and the relative state of the left and right sides of thecurrent screen.

Taking a smart cell phone as an example, which has a tri-axialaccelerometer built-in. When the cell phone is in the portraitorientation, the left and right sides in a plane of the screen maycorrespond to the negative and positive sides of X axis, the upper andlower sides in the plane of the cell phone may correspond to thepositive and negative sides of Y axis, and the inside and outside of theplane of the cell phone may correspond to the positive and negativesides of Z axis respectively. The space formed by the three axes sufficefor the detection of various actions on the smart cell phone. Inpractice, an angle of inclination of the smart phone will typically becalculated in angles to the three axes (or any two of them) forcalculating values of acceleration of gravity. When the cell phone isstationary, none of the values of acceleration on the three axes will begreater than 1 regardless of the manner in which the cell phone isplaced. Take the value of acceleration of gravity of the stationary cellphone as 1, the range for the value of g will be −1≦g≦1. When anabsolute value of the acceleration of gravity on the X axis is greaterthan an absolute value of the acceleration of gravity on the Y axis: ifthe acceleration of gravity on the X axis is g≧0, then the screen iscurrently in the portrait orientation and the left side is higher thanthe right side; if the acceleration of gravity on the X axis is g<0,then the screen is currently in the portrait orientation and the rightside is higher than the left side; and if the acceleration of gravity onthe X axis is g=0, then the screen is currently in the portraitorientation and the left and right sides are on an equal level. When anabsolute value of the acceleration of gravity on the Y axis is greaterthan an absolute value of the acceleration of gravity on the X axis: ifthe acceleration of gravity on the Y axis is g>0, then the screen iscurrently in the landscape orientation and the left side is higher thanthe right side if the negative side of the Y axis of the current screenis the left side or the right side is higher than the left side if thepositive side of the Y axis of the current screen is the left side; ifthe acceleration of gravity on the Y axis is g<0, then the screen iscurrently in the landscape orientation and the right side is higher thanthe left side if the negative side of the Y axis of the current screenis the left side or the left side is higher than the right side if thepositive side of the Y axis of the current screen is the left side; andif the acceleration of gravity on the Y axis is g=0, then the screen iscurrently in the landscape orientation and the left and right sides areon an equal level.

In practice, the mobile terminal may be in an unstable environment.Therefore a detection period, e.g. 3 seconds, may be set. When themobile terminal is maintained in a certain relative state for 3 seconds,the menu key may be displayed on a position corresponding to therelative state.

With the above steps 201-202, it is possible to obtain the relativestate of the left and right sides of the screen of the touch screenmobile terminal.

Step 203: on condition that the left side of the screen is higher thanthe right side or the right side is higher than the left side in theorientation of the screen, displaying the menu key at the higher side ofthe screen in the current orientation of the screen; on condition thatthe left and right sides are on an equal level, displaying the menu keyat a predetermined position on the screen.

Specifically, if the left side of the screen is higher than the rightside, the menu key may be displayed at the left side of the currentscreen; if the right side of the screen is higher than the left side,the menu key may be displayed at the right side of the current screen.If the left and right sides of the screen are on an equal level, themenu key may be displayed at a predetermined position on the screen. Thepredetermined position may be any position on the screen. Preferably,the predetermined position may be set at the left side of the screen asmost users typically use cell phones with their right hands; thus whenthe left and right sides of the screen are on an equal level, the menukey may be displayed at the left side of the screen by default.

In practice, the mobile terminal may be in an unstable environment.Therefore a detection period, e.g. 3 seconds, may be set. When the leftside of the screen is higher than the right side for 3 seconds, the menukey is displayed on the left side of the current screen; on the otherhand, when the right side of the screen is higher than the left side for3 seconds, the menu key is displayed on the right side of the currentscreen.

Typically when a user uses a cell phone with a single hand, he/she maysupport one end of the cell phone with his/her little finger to preventthe cell phone from falling down. Therefore when the cell phone is heldwith a right hand, the left side will be higher than the right side andwhen the cell phone is held with a left hand, the right hand will behigher than the left side. It is noted that when the cell phone is heldwith the left hand, the area that can be conveniently operated is theright side of the screen, and when the cell phone is held with the righthand, the area that can be conveniently operated is the left side of thescreen. Therefore in the embodiment, on condition that the left side ofthe screen is higher than the right side, the menu key is displayed onthe left side of the current screen; and on condition that the rightside of the screen is higher than the left side, the menu key isdisplayed on the right side of the current screen.

Specifically, the menu key may be displayed in the following manner:considering the four midpoints of the upper, lower, left and right sidesof the current screen, a line connecting the midpoints of the left andright sides is referred to as a horizontal midline, and a lineconnecting the midpoints of the upper and lower sides is referred to asa vertical midline. The current screen may be divided into four regionsby the horizontal and vertical midlines of the current screen: alower-left region, a lower-right region, an upper-left region and anupper-right region. When the screen is in the landscape orientation andthe right side of the screen is higher than the left side, the menu keyis displayed in the lower-right region of the current landscape screen;when the screen is in the landscape orientation and the left side of thescreen is higher than the right side, the menu key is displayed in thelower-left region of the current landscape screen; when the screen is inthe portrait orientation and the right side of the screen is higher thanthe left side, the menu key is displayed in the lower-right region ofthe current portrait screen; when the screen is in the portraitorientation and the left side of the screen is higher than the rightside, the menu key is displayed in the lower-left region of the currentportrait screen; and when the left and right sides of the screen is onan equal level, the menu key is displayed at a predetermined position onthe current screen.

Step 204: recording operation information for the menu key within apredetermined period.

The operation information may include an operation trajectory in which auser operates the menu key, the relative state of left and right sidesof the screen and the orientation of the screen of the touch screenmobile terminal when being operated, and a type of the operationtrajectory. The type of the operation trajectory may include a validoperation trajectory and an invalid operation trajectory.

The predetermined period may be one day or one week, or its specificlength may be set by the user as he/she desires.

Step 205: calculating display positions for the menu key correspondingto various relative states in different orientations of the screen for anext period in accordance with the operation information and a displayposition for the menu key within a current period.

Specifically, the display positions for the menu key corresponding tovarious relative states in different orientations of the screen for thenext period are calculated respectively based on the equation of:Vc=A*Vi+(1−A)*Vj,

-   -   wherein A indicates a value of ratio of a number of the valid        operation trajectories to the invalid operation trajectories        corresponding to various relative states in different        orientations of the screen within the period, Vi indicates        coordinates of the display position for the menu key within the        current period, and Vj indicates average position coordinates        for the invalid operation trajectories.

When calculating the average position coordinates Vj for the invalidoperation trajectories, the average position coordinates for the startpositions in the invalid operation trajectories may be calculated first,i.e. an arithmetic average value of the coordinates for all the pointsmay be taken as the coordinates of an average position, and then theaverage position coordinates for the end positions may be calculated.The average trajectory is one from the start average position to the endaverage position, and the midpoint of the average trajectory is takenfor the average position coordinates Vj for the invalid operations.

Specifically, it is possible to calculate, when the application isinvoked for the first time in a period, the display positioncorresponding to different relative states in the period; it is alsopossible to calculate, at the end of a previous period, the displayposition corresponding to different relative states in its next period;it is also possible to calculate, following an instruction from theuser, the display position for the menu key for the next time. In theembodiment, the timing for calculating the display position is notlimited.

It is noted that the display position within the first period may bepredetermined.

Step 206: displaying function options corresponding to the menu keyalong a predetermined path on condition that the menu key is hit;displaying function options corresponding to the menu key along a slidepath of the menu key on condition that the menu key is slid; anddisplaying function options corresponding to the menu key along auser-specified path on condition that the menu key is hit.

All the function options corresponding to the menu key may be displayedalong a predetermined path, which may be a semicircular arc, oncondition that the menu key is hit; the function options displayed inthis shape may facilitate use's operation on the function options.

For a predetermined path of a semicircular arc, the step of displayingthe function options corresponding to the menu key along thepredetermined path on condition that the menu key is hit mayspecifically include: arranging the function options corresponding tothe menu key onto the semicircular arc in a certain interval from theleft to the right (or from the right to the left); alternatively, thefunction options corresponding to the menu key may be arranged onto thesemicircular arc in different intervals from the left to the right (orfrom the right to the left).

It is noted that the predetermined path may be a line, or another shape,or an animation. If the predetermined path is a line, the functionoptions corresponding to the menu key may be arranged onto the line in acertain interval from the left to the right (or from the right to theleft); alternatively, the function options corresponding to the menu keymay be arranged onto the line in different intervals from the left tothe right (or from the right to the left). The different intervals maybe intervals predetermined according to a rule, e.g. an arithmeticsequence of numbers or a sequence of prime numbers, or may be arbitraryintervals, e.g. 1, 1, 2, 1, 3, or the like. When the predetermined pathis an animation, the function options corresponding to the menu key maybe displayed one by one in the animation according to the names of thefunction options. For example, the animation may be one that displays afunction option at regular time intervals, and the function options isnot limited, e.g. it may be displayed in a random order or in an orderof the names of the function options. When the predetermined path is ofanother shape, e.g. a “˜” shape, the function options corresponding tothe menu key may be arranged onto a track of the shape in a certaininterval from the left to the right (or from the right to the left);alternatively, the function options corresponding to the menu key may bearranged onto a track of the shape in different intervals from the leftto the right (or from the right to the left). The manner of displayingthe function options when the menu key is hit is not limited, but may beset based on the user's preference.

The function options corresponding to the menu key may be displayedalong a slide path of the menu key on condition that the menu key isslid. Preferably, all the function options are evenly displayed on thepath. For example, if the user slides the menu key along an arc, thefunction options may emerge along the arc and are displayed as evenlydistributed on the arc; if the user slides the menu key along a line,the function options may emerge along the line and are displayed asevenly distributed on the line.

The user-specified path may be set by a user according to his/her ownhabit. For example, based on his/her habit of using the cell phone, e.g.holding the cell phone with the left hand or the right hand, the usermay set the path to be a semicircular arc that is higher on the leftside than on the right side or that is higher on the right side than onthe left side. When the menu key is hit, the function optionscorresponding to the menu key may be displayed along the user-specifiedpath corresponding to the holding state. Alternatively, the cell phonemay provide a function of setting a display path to the user, and theuser may set a user-specified path in advance depending on his/herpreference. When the menu key is hit, the function options correspondingto the menu key are displayed in accordance with the user-specifiedpath. For example, if a line with a slope of K is set, then when themenu key is hit, the function options corresponding to the menu key maybe displayed in accordance with the line with the slope of K, which willnot be elaborated herein.

Specifically, it can be determined via a click event whether the userhit the menu key or slides the menu key. This technique is well known tothose skilled in the art and will not be elaborated herein.

It is to be noted that in the embodiment, the orientation of the screenand the relative state of the left and right sides of the screen areboth determined via gravity sensing. In another implementation of thepresent disclosure, it is also possible to determine the relative stateof the left and right sides of the screen only for a default screenorientation (e.g. the portrait orientation), and in this case it is notnecessary to determine the orientation of the screen via gravitysensing.

According to the embodiment, by determining the relative state of theleft and right sides of the screen of the touch screen mobile terminalvia gravity sensing, the current operation state of the user, e.g.holding the touch screen mobile terminal by the left hand or holding thetouch screen mobile terminal by the right hand, can be determined inaccordance with the relative state. The menu key can then be set at aposition where the user can operate easily so that the user can operatethe menu key conveniently. The embodiment takes into account theoperation habits of the user when determining the display position ofthe menu key and better facilitates the operation of the user on themenu key, resulting in an improved user experience and a betterinteraction between the user and the touch screen mobile terminal.Further, according to the embodiment, the display position may beadjusted in every period so that the user may operate more convenientlyand the likelihood of the menu key being successfully selected can beincreased. The display path for the function options may be setaccording to the user's operation on the menu key, eliminating thenecessity of opening the menu in a new page and preventing the currentaction by the user from being interrupted; this facilitates the user'soperation on the function options and results in a further improved userexperience and a better human-machine interaction.

Third Embodiment

With reference to FIG. 3, an embodiment of the disclosure provides adisplay device for a menu key of a touch screen mobile terminal, whichis applicable to the display method for a menu key of a touch screenmobile terminal provided by the first embodiment. The device mayinclude:

An obtaining module 301 configured to obtain a relative state of leftand right sides of a screen of the touch screen mobile terminal.

A display module 302 configured to display, on condition that the leftside of the screen is higher than the right side or the right side ishigher than the left side, the menu key at the higher side of thescreen.

According to the embodiment, by determining the relative state of theleft and right sides of the screen of the touch screen mobile terminalvia gravity sensing, the current operation state of the user, e.g.holding the touch screen mobile terminal by the left hand or holding thetouch screen mobile terminal by the right hand, can be determined inaccordance with the relative state. The menu key can then be set at aposition where the user can operate easily so that the user can operatethe menu key conveniently. The embodiment takes into account theoperation habits of the user when determining the display position ofthe menu key and better facilitates the operation of the user on themenu key, resulting in an improved user experience and a betterinteraction between the user and the touch screen mobile terminal.

Fourth Embodiment

An embodiment of the disclosure provides a display device for a menu keyof a touch screen mobile terminal, which is applicable to the displaymethod for a menu key of a touch screen mobile terminal provided by thesecond embodiment. With reference to FIG. 4, the device may include:

An obtaining module 401 configured to obtain a relative state of leftand right sides of a screen of the touch screen mobile terminal.

A display module 402 configured to display, on condition that the leftside of the screen is higher than the right side or the right side ishigher than the left side, the menu key at the higher side of thescreen.

With reference to FIG. 5, the obtaining module 401 may preferablyincludes:

A first determination unit 4011 configured to determine an orientationof the screen of the touch screen mobile terminal via gravity sensing,the orientation of the screen including landscape and portrait; and

-   -   a second determination unit 4012 configured to determine the        relative state of the left and right sides of the touch screen        mobile terminal in accordance with the determined orientation of        the screen.

The device may further include:

A recording module 403 configured to record operation information forthe menu key within a predetermined period, wherein the operationinformation may include an operation trajectory in which a user operatesthe menu key, the relative state of left and right sides of the screenand the orientation of the screen of the touch screen mobile terminalwhen being operated, and a type of the operation trajectory, the type ofthe operation trajectory including a valid operation trajectory and aninvalid operation trajectory.

A calculation module 404 configured to calculate display positions forthe menu key corresponding to various relative states in differentorientations of the screen for a next period in accordance with theoperation information and a display position for the menu key within acurrent period recorded by the calculation module 403.

Specifically, the calculation module 404 may calculate the displaypositions for the menu key corresponding to various relative states indifferent orientations of the screen for the next period respectivelybased on the equation of:Vc=A*Vi+(1−A)*Vj,

-   -   wherein A indicates a value of ratio of a number of the valid        operation trajectories to the invalid operation trajectories        corresponding to various relative states in different        orientations of the screen within the period, Vi indicates        coordinates of the display position for the menu key within the        current period, and Vj indicates average position coordinates        for the invalid operation trajectories.

When calculating the average position coordinates Vj for the invalidoperation trajectories, the average position coordinates for the startpositions in the invalid operation trajectories may be calculated first,i.e. an arithmetic average value of the coordinates for all the pointsmay be taken as the coordinates of an average position, and then theaverage position coordinates for the end positions may be calculated.The average trajectory is one from the start average position to the endaverage position, and the midpoint of the average trajectory is takenfor the average position coordinates Vj for the invalid operations.

Specifically, it is possible to calculate, when the application isinvoked for the first time in a period, the display positioncorresponding to different relative states in the period; it is alsopossible to calculate, at the end of a previous period, the displayposition corresponding to different relative states in its next period;it is also possible to calculate, following an instruction from theuser, the display position for the menu key for the next time. In theembodiment, the timing for calculating the display position is notlimited.

It is noted that the display position within the first period may bepredetermined.

Optionally, the display module 402 is further configured to display themenu key at a predetermined position on the screen of the touch screenmobile terminal on condition that the left and right sides are on anequal level.

Preferably, the display module 402 is further configured to: displayfunction options corresponding to the menu key along a predeterminedpath on condition that the menu key is hit; display function optionscorresponding to the menu key along a slide path of the menu key oncondition that the menu key is slid; and display function optionscorresponding to the menu key along a user-specified path on conditionthat the menu key is hit.

According to the embodiment, by determining the relative state of theleft and right sides of the screen of the touch screen mobile terminalvia gravity sensing, the current operation state of the user, e.g.holding the touch screen mobile terminal by the left hand or holding thetouch screen mobile terminal by the right hand, can be determined inaccordance with the relative state. The menu key can then be set at aposition where the user can operate easily so that the user can operatethe menu key conveniently. The embodiment takes into account theoperation habits of the user when determining the display position ofthe menu key and better facilitates the operation of the user on themenu key, resulting in an improved user experience and a betterinteraction between the user and the touch screen mobile terminal.Further, according to the embodiment, the display position may beadjusted in every period so that the user may operate more convenientlyand the likelihood of the menu key being successfully selected can beincreased. The display path for the function options may be setaccording to the user's operation on the menu key, eliminating thenecessity of opening the menu in a new page and preventing the currentaction by the user from being interrupted; this facilitates the user'soperation on the function options and results in a further improved userexperience and a better human-machine interaction.

It is to be noted that the device provided by the above embodiment isillustrated by being divided the functional modules upon displaying themenu key. In practice, the above functions may be assigned to differentfunctional modules as desired, and in other words, the device may bedifferently divided into functional modules to achieve all or part ofthe above described functions. In addition, the display device for amenu key of a touch screen mobile terminal provided by the aboveembodiment is derived from the same concept as the display method for amenu key of a touch screen mobile terminal from the embodiment; itsimplementation may be found in the embodiment regarding the method andwill not be elaborated herein.

Third Embodiment

The embodiment of the disclosure provides a mobile terminal, which maybe a handheld device with the functionality of wireless connection, oranother processing device coupled to a wireless modem, or a mobileterminal in communication with one or more core network via a wirelessaccess network. For example, the mobile terminal may be a mobile phone(or referred to as a “cellular phone”), a computer with a mobileterminal; the mobile terminal may also be a mobile terminal which isportable, pocket, handheld, built in a computer, or carried by avehicle. With reference to FIG. 6, the mobile terminal provided by theembodiment may include: a processor 601 and a transceiver 602, theprocessor 601 and the transceiver 602 being coupled together.

The processor 601 is configured to obtain a relative state of left andright sides of a screen of the touch screen mobile terminal; anddisplay, on condition that the left side of the screen is higher thanthe right side or the right side is higher than the left side, the menukey at the higher side of the screen.

the transceiver 602 is configured to establish communication between themobile terminal and another mobile terminal or a wireless network toimplement data receiving and transmitting between the mobile terminaland said another mobile terminal or the wireless network.

Preferably, the processor 601 is further configured to: determine anorientation of the screen of the touch screen mobile terminal viagravity sensing, the orientation of the screen including landscape andportrait; and

-   -   determine the relative state of the left and right sides of the        touch screen mobile terminal in accordance with the determined        orientation of the screen.

Further, the processor 601 may be further configured to: recordoperation information for the menu key within a predetermined period,wherein the operation information includes an operation trajectory inwhich a user operates the menu key, the relative state of left and rightsides of the screen and the orientation of the screen of the touchscreen mobile terminal when being operated, and a type of the operationtrajectory, the type of the operation trajectory including a validoperation trajectory and an invalid operation trajectory; and

-   -   calculate display positions for the menu key corresponding to        various relative states in different orientations of the screen        for a next period in accordance with the operation information        and a display position for the menu key within a current period.

Specifically, the processor 601 may be configured to calculate thedisplay positions for the menu key corresponding to various relativestates in different orientations of the screen for the next periodrespectively based on the equation of:Vc=A*Vi+(1−A)*Vj,

-   -   wherein A indicates a value of ratio of a number of the valid        operation trajectories to the invalid operation trajectories        corresponding to various relative states in different        orientations of the screen within the period, Vi indicates        coordinates of the display position for the menu key within the        current period, and Vj indicates average position coordinates        for the invalid operation trajectories.

Optionally, the processor 601 is further configured to: display the menukey at a predetermined position on the screen of the touch screen mobileterminal on condition that the left and right sides are on an equallevel.

Preferably, the processor 601 is further configured to:

-   -   display function options corresponding to the menu key along a        predetermined path on condition that the menu key is hit;    -   display function options corresponding to the menu key along a        slide path of the menu key on condition that the menu key is        slid; and    -   display function options corresponding to the menu key along a        user-specified path on condition that the menu key is hit.

According to the embodiment, by determining the relative state of theleft and right sides of the screen of the touch screen mobile terminalvia gravity sensing, the current operation state of the user, e.g.holding the touch screen mobile terminal by the left hand or holding thetouch screen mobile terminal by the right hand, can be determined inaccordance with the relative state. The menu key can then be set at aposition where the user can operate easily so that the user can operatethe menu key conveniently. The embodiment takes into account theoperation habits of the user when determining the display position ofthe menu key and better facilitates the operation of the user on themenu key, resulting in an improved user experience and a betterinteraction between the user and the touch screen mobile terminal.Further, according to the embodiment, the display position may beadjusted in every period so that the user may operate more convenientlyand the likelihood of the menu key being successfully selected can beincreased. The display path for the function options may be setaccording to the user's operation on the menu key, eliminating thenecessity of opening the menu in a new page and preventing the currentaction by the user from being interrupted; this facilitates the user'soperation on the function options and results in a further improved userexperience and a better human-machine interaction.

The embodiments of the disclosure are numbered as above merely for thepurpose of description, and does not hint any order of quality.

It is apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art that all or partof the steps for the above embodiments may be implemented by hardware,or by a program to instruct relevant hardware. The program may be storedon a computer readable medium, which may be a read only memory, amagnetic disc or an optical disc.

The inventive disclosure has been described above in terms of specificembodiments which, however, are not intended to limit the scope of theinventive concept. All the modifications, alternatives and improvementswithin the spirit and concept of the invention should be encompassed bythe invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display method for a menu key of a touch screenmobile terminal, the method comprising: obtaining a relative state ofleft and right sides of a screen of the touch screen mobile terminal;and displaying, on condition that the left side of the screen is higherthan the right side or the right side is higher than the left side, themenu key at the higher side of the screen, wherein said obtaining therelative state of left and right sides of the screen of the touch screenmobile terminal comprises: determining an orientation of the screen ofthe touch screen mobile terminal via gravity sensing, the orientation ofthe screen comprising landscape and portrait; and determining therelative state of the left and right sides of the touch screen mobileterminal in accordance with the determined orientation of the screen,and wherein the method further comprises: recording operationinformation for the menu key within a predetermined period, wherein theoperation information comprises an operation trajectory in which a useroperates the menu key, the relative state of left and right sides of thescreen and the orientation of the screen of the touch screen mobileterminal when the menu key is being operated by the user, and a type ofthe operation trajectory, the type of the operation trajectorycomprising a valid operation trajectory and an invalid operationtrajectory; and calculating display positions for the menu keycorresponding to various relative states in different orientations ofthe screen for a next period in accordance with the operationinformation and a display position for the menu key within a currentperiod, wherein said calculating display positions for the menu keycorresponding to various relative states in different orientations ofthe screen for the next period in accordance with the operationinformation and the display position for the menu key within the currentperiod comprises: calculating the display positions for the menu keycorresponding to various relative states in different orientations ofthe screen for the next period respectively based on the equation of:Vc=A*Vi+(1−A)*Vj, wherein A indicates a value of ratio of a number ofthe valid operation trajectories to the invalid operation trajectoriescorresponding to various relative states in different orientations ofthe screen within the period, Vi indicates coordinates of the displayposition for the menu key within the current period, and Vj indicatesaverage position coordinates for the invalid operation trajectories. 2.A display device for a menu key of a touch screen mobile terminal, thedevice comprising: a processor; and a memory containing instructionsexecutable by the processor, wherein the processor is configured to:determine an orientation of a screen of the touch screen mobile terminalvia gravity sensing, the orientation of the screen comprising landscapeand portrait; determine a relative state of left and right sides of thetouch screen mobile terminal in accordance with the determinedorientation of the screen; and display, on condition that the left sideof the screen is higher than the right side or the right side is higherthan the left side, the menu key at the higher side of the screen,wherein the processor is further configured to: record operationinformation for the menu key within a predetermined period, wherein theoperation information comprises an operation trajectory in which a useroperates the menu key, the relative state of left and right sides of thescreen and the orientation of the screen of the touch screen mobileterminal when the menu key is being operated by the user, and a type ofthe operation trajectory, the type of the operation trajectorycomprising a valid operation trajectory and an invalid operationtrajectory; and calculate display positions for the menu keycorresponding to various relative states in different orientations ofthe screen for a next period in accordance with the operationinformation and a display position for the menu key within a currentperiod, wherein the processor is further configured to calculate thedisplay positions for the menu key corresponding to various relativestates in different orientations of the screen for the next periodrespectively based on the equation of:Vc=A*Vi=(1−A)*Vj, wherein A indicates a value of ratio of a number ofthe valid operation trajectories to the invalid operation trajectoriescorresponding to various relative states in different orientations ofthe screen within the period, Vi indicates coordinates of the displayposition for the menu key within the current period, and Vj indicatesaverage position coordinates for the invalid operation trajectories. 3.A display method for a menu key of a touch screen mobile terminal, themethod comprising: obtaining a relative state of left and right sides ofa screen of the touch screen mobile terminal; and displaying, oncondition that the left side of the screen is higher than the right sideor the right side is higher than the left side, the menu key at thehigher side of the screen, recording operation information for the menukey within a predetermined period, wherein the operation informationcomprises an operation trajectory in which a user operates the menu key,the relative state of left and right sides of the screen and anorientation of the screen of the touch screen mobile terminal when themenu key is being operated by the user, and a type of the operationtrajectory, the type of the operation trajectory comprising a validoperation trajectory and an invalid operation trajectory; andcalculating display positions for the menu key corresponding to variousrelative states in different orientations of the screen for a nextperiod in accordance with the operation information and a displayposition for the menu key within a current period, wherein saidcalculating display positions for the menu key corresponding to variousrelative states in different orientations of the screen for the nextperiod in accordance with the operation information and the displayposition for the menu key within the current period comprises:calculating the display positions for the menu key corresponding tovarious relative states in different orientations of the screen for thenext period respectively based on the equation of:Vc=A*Vi+(1−A)*Vj, wherein A indicates a value of ratio of a number ofthe valid operation trajectories to the invalid operation trajectoriescorresponding to various relative states in different orientations ofthe screen within the period, Vi indicates coordinates of the displayposition for the menu key within the current period, and Vj indicatesaverage position coordinates for the invalid operation trajectories.